Sealing machine



Jan. 12, 1932. v L' 1,841,051

I SEALING MACHINE Filed Dec. 19, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet l Jvwamtoz A. PODELSEALING MACHINE Jan. 12, 1932.

Filed Dec. 19, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. PODEL SEALING MACHINE Filed Dec.19, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Elvwemtoz PODEL SEALING MACHINE Jan. 12, 1932.

Filed Dec. 19, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 5M, omboz Arafiam 3 06/6! PatentedJan. 12, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ABRAHAM PODEL, O! BBONX, NEWYORK, ASSIGNOR TO ANCHOR CAP & CLOSURE CORPORATION, LONG ISLAND CITY,NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK snanme nacnmn Application filedDecember 19, 1827. Serial No. 241,070.

The present invention relates to sealing machines and more particularlyto a vacuum sealing machine for exhausting the air from containers andhermetically sealing closures thereon.

It is well known that in canning and preserving, the products keep muchbetter when sealed under a vacuum; that is, when the air is exhaustedfrom the containers prior to the sealing operations. At the present timewhen various food products are packed in large quantities by ackers, arapid and effective way is desira 1e. Heretofore vacuum machines havebeen provided with chambers sufficiently large to enclose the entirecontainer. A suitable door had to be opened and closed; in addition, thecontainers had to be placed within the chamber. Automatic operation ofthe door was not feasible, due to the fact that there was danger of theoperators hand being caught while placing the container within thechamber. The joint between the door and the chamber was frequently thesource of leaks. An excessive amount of air had to be removed prior toeach sealing operation due to the fact that the chamber was notcompletely filled by the container and because containers of differentsizes were sealed in the same chamber.

Other machines have utilized sectioned gaskets for encircling the upperend of the container. With these, however, considerable pressure isapplied radially inward on the container which may, in some instances,

a break the container. Further difiiculty has been encountered inobtaining proper seals with such gaskets due to the joints between therespective sections. The wear on the parts is excessive and slight wearmay occasion defective seals in a number of containers before theimperfection is discovered.

The present invention overcomes the above difficulties by providing aring gasket through which the upper end of the container with theclosure cap thereon is raised. The shape and form of the gasket is suchthat engagement with the shoulder on the container tends to produce atight seal about the side wall thereof. The evacuation of the chamberabove the gasket causes the external atmospheric pressure to press thegasket tightly against the side wall to hold it rigidly in position.Either one or both of these characteristics in the operation of thegasket is sufficiently effective to form an excellent seal. The two ofthem co-operating together minimize the danger of leaks between thegasket and the container. While the shape of the gasket is such as to bemost effective with containers havin shoulders thereon, it isnevertheless equa ly applicable to containers without shoulders and tocontainers polygonal in section or to panelled containers. The lowerannular lip is adapted to close tightly about the container under theinfluence of atmospheric pressure and to conform to the shape of thecontainer, irrespective of whether there is a shoulder or not.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum sealingmachine, simple and inexpensive in both construction and operation whichwill effectively exhaust the air from, and seal glass containers.

Another object of the invention is to minimize the space about the upperend of the containers so that the operation of the machine will be mostefficient.

Another object of the invention is to eliminate the necessity for themanipulation of a door by the operator and thereby increase the speeddofoperation and decrease the labor require Another object of the inventionis to provide an effective ring gasket for forming a hermetic seal aboutthe upper end of a container and to minimize the wear on said gasket.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gasket which will beheld firmly in position against the side wall of the container bv theexternal atmospheric pressure occasioned by the evacuation of the air inthe illustrated embodiment about to be described, and various advant esnot referred to herein will occur to one ski led in the art uponemployment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodlment has been chosen for pur oses of illustration anddescription and is s own in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 isa side elevational view of the machine with parts in section toillustrate the sealing mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the machine with parts in elevation;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the sealing mechanism,illustrating) the position of the parts at completion of t e sealingoperation Fi 4 is a detailed sectional view illustrating t e position ofthe ring gasket when the container is raised sufiiciently for theshoulder to engage the upper lip Fig. 5 is a partial perspective view ofthe ring gasket shown in Fig. 4 and the holding members therefor inunassembled osition;

Fig. 6 is a detailed View of anot er form of ring gasket shown inrelation to a container prior to the evacuation of the air from thevacuum chamber; 7

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the rubber gasket shown inFig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detailed view of thecam utilized for operating the valve forcontrolling pressure in the vacuum chamber; and

Fig. 9 is a detailed view illustrating the buttons in the cap forfacilitating the escape of air from the container.

Described generally, the present machine comprises a driving mechanismwhich operates in sequence the various elements of the machine. Asuitable cam raises a table to carry the container thereon into firmengagement with a ring gasket when it is in sealing position. Thereaftera suitable valve is o erated to exhaust the air in the chamber a ve thering gasket, which causes the external atmosphere to force the ringgasket firmly against the side wall of the container to render the sealon the side wall of the con-' tainer more effective. After the air hasbeen exhausted, a sealing mechanism reforms the skirt of the cap topress the gasket tightly against the mouth of the container to form ahermetic seaL. A valve operates then to admit air and the table islowered to remove the container from the chamber.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a framework comprising avertical column 1 adapted to support the various elements of the sealingmechanism. At the bottom of the column and on one side thereof, aframework 2 is provided for supporting the driving mechanism. A pulley 4is attached to a shaft 5 in bearing 6 to drive through gears 9 and 10,shaft 7, in bearing 8. It will be understood that the pulley 4 is merelyillustrative of one form of drive, and that the sealing machine may beoperated electrically by means of a suitable motor, if desired.

The shaft 7 extends through the bearing 11 in-column 1, and has mountedthereon a cam 12 for operatin the sealing mechanism and a cam 14 forraising the container supporting table. The cam 14 has a surface 15, as.shown in Fig. 8, adapted to engage a rocker-arm for operating a valve 13to control the vacuum in the chamber.

The gear 10 is connected to the shaft 7 throu h a clutch 16, which whenin the position s own in Fig. 1 prevents the car 10 from being eifectiveupon the shaft. y desired form of clutch may be utilized to effect thenecessary operation. A treadle 17 is pivoted at one end and operativelyconnected at its center to the clutch member to pull it downwardly outof position to effeet the sealing operation when the treadle 17 ispressed downwardly in opposition to a spring 18. In this manner theclutch is in eflect1ve position to connect the driving mechanism withthe shaft 7 only when the treadle is pressed by the operator. In orderto prevent the machine from running under its own momentum, a brake band19 is secured about a collar 20 on the shaft and held in position bymembers 21.

Any suitable table mechanism may be provided for supporting and raisingthe contains ers but, as here shown, it comprises a rod 22 mounted inbearings 24 with its lower end threaded into a sleeve 25 which has a camroller 26 attached thereto in engagement with a suitable groove 23 inthe cam 14 to move positively a jar support 33 both upwardly anddownwardly. The support 33 is adapted to pass throu h a suitableaperture in the stationary tab e 29 and its upper surface is flush withthe table when in lowered position. The threaded sleeve permitsadjustment in the height of the support to accommodate different sizesof containers. The upper end of the rod 22 is hollow to receive a coiledspring 28 through the intermediation of which the movable table 33 issupported.

'Suitable guides 30 may be provided for positioning the containers onthe table. It will be understood that when the treadle 17 is operated,the cam 14 raises the support and container upwardly so that thecontainer engages the ringgasket 31, which may be substantially Y-shapedin cross-section. The two legs of the Y preferably engage the shoulderof the container. The pressure of the container on the upper leg of theY forces the lower leg of the Y inwardly to engage the side wall of thecontainer, thereby to form a very effective seal thereabout.

The sealing mechanism comprises an upper stationary die 34 against whichthe closure on the container is pressed when the container is raised tosealing position. The lower die of a pin 40, is adapted to raise andlower the rods 36 to operate the segmental jaws 35. The mechanism foreffecting this operation comprises a rod 41 extending through the column1 with a cam roller 42 at the lower end thereof riding upon the cam 12.The cam roller 42 is held resiliently against the cam by a spring 44which raises and closes the lower die 35 by pressing downwardly the rod41 when the dwell in the cam reaches the cam roller 42. As the jaws moveupwardly, the outer curved surface 47 thereof enages the ring 48 topress these jaws inwardy in op osition to the springs 49 to engage thebea in the skirt of the cap and press it against the upper'die to forcethe gasket against the container.

The rods 36 are provided with packing glands 50 to form an air tightchamber about the sealing mechanism. The bottom of the chamber isprovided with an annular ring 51 having an inwardly extending flange 51,the under side of which is cut away at 54 to seat the outer periphery ofthe ring gasket 31. The ring 52 may be secured in any suitable manner tothe telescoping ring 55, for example, by means of thumb-screws 56 andring groove 57. The joint between the two rings is made air tight bymeans of the gasket 53. The ring 55 is secured to the bottom of thechamber by means of suitable screws not shown, and engages the gasket 63to prevent leakage therebetween. On the lower side of the ring 51 is awasher or ring 58 suitably attached to clamp the outer periphery of thegasket 31 tightly against the inner.

. flange of the ring 51.

While various forms of ring gaskets may be used, the preferredembodiment comprises a gasket made of rubber or the like with alaterally extending peripheral part 59 of substantial width to permitfirm engagement by the rings 51 and 58 so that it may be held rigidly inposition. The width of the gasket and the character of the materialforming the gasket is such that there is a slight flexibility permittingthe gasket to adjust itself to the container. The inner periphery oropening through the gasket is tapered inwardly toward the top so thatthe internal diameter of the aperture is substantiall smaller at the topthan at the bottom thereo The intermediate portion is curved as shown at60 to conform generally to the shape of the shoulder of the container.When the container is forced through the gasket the surface thereoffirst engages the upper inwardly projecting part 61, which has thesmaller diameter, and further upward movement of the container pressesthis art upwardly and outwardly which in turn orces the lower lip 62inwardly against the side wall of the container.

It is not necessary, although it is desirable, that the seal beextremely tight about the contamer for, when the air is exhausted fromthe chamber, the external atmospheric pressure presses upwardly andinwardly on the lower part of ip 62 of the gasket to hold it rigidlyagainst the container.

Another form of gasket is shown in Fi 6. This gasket likewise has a wideouter per: hery 59 adapted to be clamped as descri d hereinbefore withreference to the gasket 31. The effective part of this ring gasket forengagement with the container comprises a lower lip 66 slightly largerin diameter than the external diameter of the container. This 11ptelescopes loosely about the container but when the air is evacuatedfrom the chamber above, the gasket is forced upwardly and inwardly underthe pressure of the external atmosphere, which forces it firmly intoengagement with the side wall of the container to form an effective sealthereabout.

When the air is exhausted from the vacuum chamber, the container itself,since it encloses a substantial portion thereof, is forced withconsiderable pressure against the stationary sealing die 34. It has beenfound that with a plain cover portion, the cap is pressed so tightlyagainst the mouth of the container that the proper vacuum is notproduced within the container. is overcome by a series of buttons 65pressed into the cover ortion of the ca 64 to cushion the effect of t epressure app ied thereto in addition to forming air channels between thecap and the container 32 prior to the sealing operation so that the airmay be freely removed therefrom, as shown in detail in Fig. 9.

The exhausting mechanism may be of any suitable character but is hereshown comprising the valve 13 in the exhaust line 69 which is connectedto any suitable mechanism for roducing a vacuum therein. The valve 13 ispreferably a three-way valve; that is, when in one position, the vacuumchamber is connected to the exhausting mechanism and when in anotherposition is shut off from the exhausting mechanism and opened to theatmosphere, whereby the vacuum in the chamber is quickly broken. A rod70 is eccentrically connected at its upper end to the cylindrical part71 of the valve 13 with its lower end connected to the rocker arm 72pivoted at 74. The other end of the rocker arm has a cam-roller 75 heldin engagement with the surface of the cam 14 as shown in Fig. 8 by thespring 73. The cam surface is such that the valve is operated in propersequence, when the shaft 7 is rotated.

In operating the machine an operator laces a container, having a closureresting oosely thereupon, on the table 29. The

This difliculty guides 30 on the table correctly position the containeron the movable support 33. Thereupon the operator presses the treadle 17downward to operate the clutch so that the shaft 7 is rotated by thegear 10. The first operation of the machine is to raise by means of thecam 14, the support and the container thereon, until the container ispressed firmly against the upper sealing die 34, and the ring gasket 31is in engagement with the side wall of the container. The up er lip ofthe gasket is pressed upwardly byt e container, thereb forcin the lower11p into contact with tiie straig t portion of the side wall to form atight'seal; thereby rendering the atmospheric pressure more eifective inholding the ring gasket against the container. The cam 14 then operates,through the rod 70, the valve 13 for connecting the chamber above thering gasket with a suitable vacuum. As the air 1s removed from thevacuum chamber the ring gasket is forced by the atmosphere tightlagainst the side wall of the container and tie container itself isressed against the upper sealing die. The uttons in the cover portion ofthe cap not only form a cushion between the die and the mouth of thecontainer but also provide channels for the 'free passage of air fromthe container. The sealing mechanism operates through cam 12, rod 41,springs 44 and 45, rod 46 and the pivoted lever 39 to raise the verticalrods 36 and the attached lower sealing die 35. The movement of the die35 upwardly causes the outer curved surface thereof which is inengagement with the ring 48 to force the jaws inwardly and to press thehead of the cap between the upper and lower dies to force the gasketinto sealing relation with the container. Thereafter the valve 13 isoperated, as previously described, to cut oii the vacuum and to open thevacuum chamber to atmosphere. The supporting table and the jar thereonare then lowered by means of the cam 14. This cycle is repeated as onejar after another is placed on the table.

It will be seen that the present invention provides a machine which issimple in construction and effective in operation. The amount of airrequired to be exhausted in each sealing operation is reduced to aminimum. The .seal about the side wall of the container is doubly securesince the upward movement of the vessel and the external atmosphericpressure are both effective in pressing the gasket against thecontainer. The wear on the gasket is practically eliminated and in anyevent the ring gaskets are relatively inexpensive and maybe removed andreplaced with little effort. Suitable changes may be made for differentsizes of containers and the machine generally accommodates itselftocommercial Variations in the sizes of containers and is fully capable ofwithstandof is adjacent said lip, and means for exhausting 133116 roughusage to which it may be subjects I As various changes may be made inthe above embodiment without departing from the spirit of the inventionit is to be understood that all matter herein set forth is to beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a vacuum sealing machine, the combination of a member for forminga hermetic seal about the upper end of a container having a substantialshoulder thereon, said member comprisin a ring gasket having adownwardlyexten ing lip with the internal diameter at the upper part of the gasketless than the internal diameter of the lower lip part thereof, wherebywhen the shoulder of the container engages the upper part of the ring,the lower li part will be pressed into engagement with the side wall ofthe container.

2. In a vacuum sealing machine,- the combination of a sealing chamber, arin gasket extending inwardl at the lower en of the said chamber, saigasket having a downwardly extending lip, means for raising thecontainer with a closure ca thereon through said gasket until the straigt side wall thereing the air from said chamber whereby said lip, underthe force of the external atmospheric pressure, is pressed tightlyagainst said container to form a hermetic seal therewith.

3. In a vacuum sealing machine, the combination of a sealing chamber, aninwardly extending ring asket having a downwardly extending lip a aptedto telescope about the side wall of a container attached to the mouth ofsaid chamber, means for raising the upper end of a container with aclosure thereon through said gasket whereby the said lower lip will beconstricted about said container by means of the upward pressure on thecontainer and by means of the evacuation of the chamber.

4. In a vacuum sealing machine, a ring gasket adapted to form a sealabout the side wall of a container, said ring gasket being substantiallyY shaped in cross-section, the top of the Y engaging the side wall ofthe container and the straight portion of the Y being clamped to holdthe gasket in position.

5. In a vacuum sealing machine, the combination of a vacuum chamber, aring gasket at the lower side of said chamber, the outer periphery ofthe gasket being clamped in position, the upper part of said gasketextending inwardly whereby the container when raised through said gasketengages the upper part of the ring to press the lower part of the ringfirmly against the side wall thereof.

6. In a vacuum sealing machine, the combination of a sealing chamber, asealing gasket adapted to engage the side wall of a container to closesaid chamber, the upper part of said gasket projecting inwardly to beengaged by the container to force the lower part thereagainst, wherebysaid gasket is held against the said wall of the container by the upwardpressure of the container and by the external atmospheric pressure, anddevices for exhausting the air from said chamber.

7. In a vacuum sealing machine, the combination of a sealing chamber,and a sealing gasket adapted to engage the side wall of a container toclose said chamber, the upper part of said gasket projecting inwardly tobe engaged by the container to force the lower part thereagainst.

8. In a vacuum sealing machine, the combination of a resilient ringmember having a laterally extending flange and a transversely extendingportion, a member adapted to clamp the flange of said ring against saidchamber, means for raising the upper end of a container with a closurethereon through and against said ring to engage the u per part of saidtransverse portion and to orce the lower part thereof against the sidewalls of the container, to close said chamber, and co-operating sealingmembers adapted to engage and reform the skirt of said closure to sealit to said container.

9. In a vacuum sealing machine, the com- .bination of a sealing chamber,a ring gasket having a relatively thin outer periphery and a transverseportion inclined inwardly at the upper part thereof adapted to engagethe shoulder protion of a container, an opening in said ring leading tosaid chamber, means for securing the outer periphery of said gasket tosaid chamber, means for raising the upper end of a container with aclosure thereon through said ring gasket to engage said gasket and closesaid chamber about the upper end of the container, means for exhaustingthe air from the chamber, and cooperating metallic dies for reformingthe skirt of the closure and for sealing said closure to said container.

10. In a vacuum sealing machine, the combination of a sealing chamber, agasket having upwardly and downwardly extending parts adapted to fitabout the upper end of a container to be hermetically sealedthereagainst, the upper part of said gasket projecting inwardly to beengaged by the container to force the lower part against said container,means for exhausting the air from resting against said flange, and asecond ring adapted to clamp said gasket in place.

12. In a vacuum sealing machine, the combination of a sealing chamber, aring member having a radially inwardly extending flange, means forsecuring said ring member to said sealing chamber, a sealing gaskethaving annular upwardly and downwardly extending parts adapted to engagethe side wall of a container to close said chamber, the upper part ofsaid gasket projecting radially inward to be engaged by the container toforce the lower part of said gasket against the side wall of thecontainer, said gasket having a part thereof resting against the flangeof said ring member, and a second ring member adapted to clamp saidgasket in place.

13. In a vacuum sealing machine, the combination of a sealing chamber, asealing gasket adapted to engage the side wall of a container to closesaid chamber, and means for securing the outer peripheral portion ofsaid gasket to said sealing chamber, said gasket having a transverselyextending portion at the inner periphery thereof, the upper partof saidtransverse portion projecting radially inward to be engaged by thecontainer and to force the lower part of said transverse portion againstthe container.

14. In a vacuum sealing machine, a gasket member for forming a hermeticseal about the upper end of a container having a shoulder thereon, saidmember comprising an outer peripheral flange portion for securing saidmember to said sealing machine and an inner peripheral portion disposedtransversely to said flange portion, the upper part of said transverseportion extending further radially inwardly than the lower part thereof,whereby when the shoulder of the container engages the upper part, thelower part is adapted to be pressed against the side wall of thecontainer.

New York, N. Y., Nov. 14, 1927.

ABRAHAM PODEL.

said chamber above said gasket, an upper die I in said chamber adaptedto fit against the upper part of the closure, and segmental aws in saidchamber for co-operating with said upper die to seal said closure on acontainer.

11. A detachable member for a vacuum sealing machine con'iprising. ametallic ring having an inwardly extending flange, a Y shaped ringgasket having a part thereof

